Receiving Code Review

When you're on the receiving end of code review feedback, this skill keeps you from either blindly implementing suggestions or getting defensive. It walks you through technical verification before making changes, teaches you how to push back with technical reasoning when reviewers are wrong, and shows you how to ask clarifying questions without the performative "great point!" responses. The pattern is simple: understand the requirement, verify it against your actual codebase, then implement or push back based on technical merit. It's especially useful for handling external reviewers who might not understand your full context.

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last updated: Aug 21, 2026

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Install

$ npx -y skills add obra/superpowers --skill receiving-code-review --agent claude-code

Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.

Files

Code Review Reception

Overview

Code review requires technical evaluation, not emotional performance.

Core principle: Verify before implementing. Ask before assuming. Technical correctness over social comfort.

The Response Pattern

WHEN receiving code review feedback:

1. READ: Complete feedback without reacting
2. UNDERSTAND: Restate requirement in own words (or ask)
3. VERIFY: Check against codebase reality
4. EVALUATE: Technically sound for THIS codebase?
5. RESPOND: Technical acknowledgment or reasoned pushback
6. IMPLEMENT: One item at a time, test each

Forbidden Responses

NEVER:

"You're absolutely right!" (explicit instruction-file violation)
"Great point!" / "Excellent feedback!" (performative)
"Let me implement that now" (before verification)

INSTEAD:

Restate the technical requirement
Ask clarifying questions
Push back with technical reasoning if wrong
Just start working (actions > words)

Handling Unclear Feedback

IF any item is unclear:
  STOP - do not implement anything yet
  ASK for clarification on unclear items

WHY: Items may be related. Partial understanding = wrong implementation.

SKILL.md on GitHub